By Ermira Babamusta/Qëndresë Halili is an award-winning Albanian poet and writer. Her famous works include: “War Diary” (2017), “Përsëri përsëritet” (2013; Again repeated), “Një thënie, Një shpëtim” (2012; A saying, a salvation), “Jeta e Një femre I & II” (2010, 2011; Life of a woman), “Ditari i Luftës” (2009; War Diary) and “Kur të vie fundi…” (2008; When the end comes…). In May 2013 Qëndresë Halili is awarded the Adem Shkreli Award in Germany for “Best New Writer” and in 2014 the “Poetry Award” in Podujeva, Kosovo.
Qëndresë Halili is a New-York based author, born in Ferizaj, Kosovo in 1990 to Albanian parents, Agim and Advije Halili. She is the second-born child with a younger sister and three brothers. In 2014 she received her Master’s Degree in Economics from the University of Prishtina in Kosovo. In November of the same year, Qëndresë Halili moved to United States from Kosovo.
She is the author of six books in Albanian, including novels and poetry. Her most popular and influential works are about the power of women, spirituality, freedom of mind, universal freedom and love.
Her recent book “War Diary” is a reflection of her life during the 1999 War in Kosovo. “War Diary” is a powerful book based on a true story, about her lost childhood. Qëndresë spent most of her childhood in fear and trauma haunted by the war she experienced as a nine-year-old child.
Today Qëndresë Halili is a survivor of the war. She embodies a strong, powerful and intelligent woman who uses her artwork and creativity to make the world a better place and bring positive change.
Qëndresë Halili is the author of the new book titled “War Diary”, which talks about her childhood and war experiences in Kosovo. The book is available for purchase on Author House, Amazon and iBook.
“We grew up and will grow old beforehand; we lived the weeks as they were years”.
CHILDREN AS PART OF WAR
I was only nine years old. Sometimes I feel like I wasn’t a child who endured war and all the fear, bloodshed, and trauma. I can’t believe it. It seems like this is impossible. At that time, freedom sounded impossible to me. So many children like me, who have overcome war, have fought within themselves later on. Their lives have looked like a war. They have never found their childhood, ever.
My childhood is lost now. Childhood with war happens because of the people of war. Childhood becomes red from the spilling of blood. Childhood is black just like our eagle. Therefore our flag is red and black with blood, pain and war! Children are like pure human beings. They see, speak, and feel everything the way it is, without any influence, without any background, and without any interference. Children don’t know how to play with characters, scenes, and figures. They are so straightforward that their innocence follows them into adulthood, without any clothes, scarves, hats, or gloves.
In that very close moment, I stopped in the street, crying with my head towards the sky, praying. Something inside me spoke:
Look, feel and remember everything, because one day, when you grow up, you have to be able to tell this story to the World.” (Qëndresë Halili, War Diary, 2017)